China India Photo:CFP

Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar's recent remarks on border issues with China, hinting that further de-escalation will require reciprocal steps from the Chinese side, are primarily a response to domestic pressure, said Chinese analysts. They emphasize that joint efforts from both India and China are needed to overcome the mistrust accumulated over the past few years and implement the resolution on China-India border issues. 

While addressing a press conference in Mumbai on Sunday, Jaishankar said that the disengagement of troops at two places in the border areas is the first step and the next step is de-escalation, which will not happen until India is sure that the same thing is happening on the other side as well, New Delhi Television reported, noting that Jaishankar was "obviously referring to China." 

It is incorrect for Jaishankar to place unilateral blame on China for the border issue, or for the Indian side to suggest that China is seeking concessions from India. Improving relations requires genuine effort and sincerity from both sides, avoiding overreactions and the creation of new issues. Cooperation is essential, and it is unreasonable to place all demands solely on China, Long Xingchun, a professor from the School of International Relations at Sichuan International Studies University, told the Global Times.

Lin Minwang, deputy director at the Center for South Asian Studies at Fudan University, said that in response, Jaishankar's remarks on Sunday showed that, despite the agreements, there's still a lack of mutual trust between the two countries, and Jaishankar's stance serves to address domestic political pressure.

However, from China's perspective, it has consistently maintained equality and mutual respect during negotiations and has always honored agreements, Lin said. 

Chinese Foreign Ministry Lin Jian said at a press conference on October 22 that over a recent period of time, China and India have reached resolutions on issues concerning the border area following close communication through diplomatic and military channels. China commends the progress made and will continue working with India for the sound implementation of these resolutions, he said.

In a significant move to enhance diplomatic relations, India and China are set to complete the military disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) by October 28-29, according to ANI.

The resolutions reached by both sides represent a breakthrough in addressing the border disputes since 2020. However, Jaishankar's remarks indicate that the mistrust accumulated over the past four years will take time and efforts to overcome, Qian Feng, director of the research department at the National Strategy Institute at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times on Monday. 

The resolution, reached by China and India after numerous rounds of negotiations and dialogue, has put bilateral relations back on to the path of normalcy. However, the lasting progress depends on the faithful implementation of the agreement and the gradual strengthening of ties, Qian said.